Honecker's car sells for $10,000

BERLIN {AP} Karl-Heinz Juergens remembers the jubilant night he walked through the Brandenburg Gate on Nov. 9, 1989, treading through forbidden no-man's land as the Berlin Wall fell.

Now that the Wall's gone, he can drive through and in style: with the car former East German leader Erich Honecker rode in.

Juergens was the winning bidder Saturday at an auction of Honecker's 1978 Citroen CX 2300 Prestige, paying $10,000 for the car with its tan leather interior that was once graced by the late communist leader.

Ten years after the collapse of East Germany, communist kitsch has acquired a certain trendiness as people's memories fade of the darker side of the totalitarian regime.

But this car will not be cruising the streets of Berlin anytime soon.

Juergens, a former East German, said he hopes to give the car to a museum so that younger generations do not forget their history.

"It should be a monument," said Juergens, 51. "I've met many young people who don't know much about the past."

Ironically, Juergens had been questioning the authenticity of the car just before the auction, which drew about 150 spectators and hordes of media to a Berlin hotel.

Proceeds from the auction went to benefit the children's cancer section of a Berlin hospital. Even if the car wasn't really used by Honecker, Juergens said he was still happy to help a good cause and had no plans to ask for his money back.

"My husband is emotional. When he sees a good cause he gives everything," said his wife, Urda.

Auctioneer Mark Karhausen said he took it for a test spin on the autobahn at 125 mph and it was easy driving all the way.